Fsu, Miami Return For Sequel Victory By Either Team Could Be Springboard To National Title

September 3, 1988|By RANDALL MELL, Staff Writer

The sequel comes out tonight. It`s Miami-Florida State II, a production Seminole fans have subtitled Unfinished Business.

A sellout crowd of more than 74,000 will pack the Orange Bowl to see if the 32nd meeting of these rivals can compare to the last, the 1987 thriller called the Game of the Year. Several million will tune in CBS` live telecast at 9 p.m. (kickoff is at 9:13).

It`s a mega-opener, the defending national champion Hurricanes against this year`s top-ranked team. It`s Florida State`s chance to avenge last year`s 26-25 loss, a defeat that left them one point from a 12-0 season, a failed 2- point pass away from a possible national title.

The cast of characters has changed this year, but not the plot. The game, once again, establishes the victor as a team to beat in the national title drive.

The script will be improvised, but those closest to the action are expecting another thriller.

Miami quarterback Steve Walsh, who has an eerie knack for these things, predicts it will come down to a final two-minute drive.

FSU coach Bobby Bowden`s intuition tells him much the same. It will be decided, he says, in the final minute. His team is a four-point favorite over the sixth-ranked `Canes.

Miami coach Jimmy Johnson isn`t projecting how it will end, but he says he has a pretty good sense of how it will unfold. He`s predicting an exciting game that will be decided by ``big`` plays and turnovers.

Bowden and Johnson take opposing views in what they think will decide the game.

``I think it will come down to who can control the line of scrimmage,`` Bowden says.

``I see big plays as being a factor again,`` Johnson says. ``I think a big thing is that there will be a tremendous amount of speed on both sides of the ball. There are two wide-open offenses and two aggressive defenses. I think the team with the fewest turnovers and most big plays will be successful.``

FSU won the statistical war last year, grinding out more than 400 yards of offense, 225 on the ground. Miami won with three long touchdown passes and no turnovers.

The game`s salient questions:

-- How will the `Canes` newest starters, particularly the running backs, receivers and defensive backs, respond to prime-time pressure?

``Our biggest concern with our football team is inexperience,`` Johnson says. ``You just don`t replace the type of talent we lost with inexperienced players and expect the same results. I think a key to our season might be how soon the inexperienced players can play like veterans.``

The `Canes return only nine starters. The Irvin, Blades and Bratton big-play types are gone. Walsh is the only returning skill-position starter on offense.

``I just don`t know enough about Miami,`` Bowden says. ``We don`t know what to expect from their runners, receivers and secondary. We`re going to have to stumble our way into this ballgame and feel our way around.``

-- How will Miami`s and FSU`s first-year kicking specialists handle the limelight and the kick-blocking prowess of their opponents?

-- Can FSU quarterback Chip Ferguson take over where Danny McManus left off?

Ferguson played backup to McManus last year but is by no means green. He won the Gator Bowl most-valuable-player award in 1985.

-- Can the `Canes stop the running prowess of Sammie Smith & Co.?

Smith rushed for 189 yards against Miami last year. His backup, the elusive Dexter Carter, sees much action. He rushed for more than 600 yards last season.

NOTES: Johnson and Bowden say they will go for the 2-point play to win if such a decision is needed in the final moments... UM officials are putting 125 tickets for today`s game on sale at 10 a.m. at the Hecht Athletic Center. They are $17.50 sideline seats near the field.

UM: End Bill Hawkins is an all-star. Tackles Greg Mark and Jimmie Jones have played a lot. Willis Peguese and Shane Curry are battling for the end opposite Hawkins, and Russell Maryland is pushing Jones. Good unit with plenty of experience. Peguese has big-time potential.

FSU: Overweight tackle Eric Hayes is a liability. He`ll play, but redshirt freshman Corey Senior will start. Nose tackle Odell Haggins is a force at 260 pounds. Tackle Steve Gabbard is bigger and better. Not having Hayes ready hurts because depth is inexperienced.

ADVANTAGE: UM.

LINEBACKERS

UM: The unit of Rod Carter in the middle with Randy Shannon on the strong side and Bernard Clark on the weak side is experienced and good, especially Carter, a candidate for the Butkus Award. Maurice Crum figures to play a lot. The best area on the team.